Apparatus for phonograph-kinetoscopes.



R. A. FESSENDEN.

APPARATUSFOR PHONOGRAPH KINETOSCOPES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1916.

1,213,176. Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REGINALD A. FESSENDEN, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR PHONOGRAPH-KINETOSCOPES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

Application filed June 27, 1916. Serial No. 106,247.

The methods and apparatus described herein relate to the production and transmission of sound. and more particularly to the transmission of sound. and especially I speech and music. to large audiences: and more. particularly speech. in connection with moving pictures and their visual display.

The drawing accompanying this specification shows diagrammatically apparatus for carrying out my invention.

In the figure. which is a diagrammatic side elevation of the apparatus. 12 is an electromagnetic mechanism adapted to op erate asa sound producer. and preferably an oscillator of the type used by me for submarine telegraphy and telephony. and de scribed in Letters Patentof the Ynited States No. 1.167.366. 38 is a battery for furnishing currentto the .armature of the oscillator. ll is a telephone transmitter and 13 is a switch. 11 is the diaphragm of the oscillator arranged to act. also. as a moving-picture screen. In operation the moving pictures are thrown on the screen 11 in the usual manner. and preferably on the side opposite to that on which the oscillator 1'2 is attached. Then it is desired to produce sounds in connection with the pics tures. the switch 13 is closed and the operator talks into the transmitter 14.. thereby setting the oscillator 12 in action and cansing thescreen 11. which serves as its diaphragm. .to vibratewind throw the sounds out toward the audience. In place of the telephone transmitter ell-any of the wellknown equivalents may be used. such for example as the phonograph operated synchronously 'Wltll the moving pictures. shown in application for 1'. S. Patent Serial No. 685.699.

Heretofore in the practice of the art it has been customary. when sounds are to be transmitted to a large audience. to use a horn. The speech so reproduced has not been clear and distinct. but masked by oven tones. so that the words were practically indistinguishable. and. moreover. the .sound is unpleasantly loud close to the .horn and weakat a distance from it. Moreover. when this method of transmitting sound has been used in connection with moving pictures. the source of sound is readily located and the sounds do not appear to proceed from the mouths of the images of the actors thrown on the screen. which the diaphragm of the sound-producing mechanism occupies a' large area (in most moving-picture houses a large fraction of the cross-section of the hall). overcomes these disadvantages.

The present invention. in

I have found by. experiment that when the moving-picture screen is used to form the,

diaphragm of the sound-producing mechanisml the sound does not fall olf with the distance. but is of substantially the same intensity in all parts of the hall. 1'. 0.. that part of the audience at the back of the hall hears the sounds. music or speech at substantially the same intensity and with the same clearness that those near the screen do.

1?. Means for producing sound in an inclosure adapted to contain an audience.comprising a loud speaking telephone having a diaphragm of the same order of dimensions as the cross section of said inclosure.

REGIXALD A. FESSENDEX. 

